Japadog hits Los Angeles

Hideki Aizawa, marketing manager for Japadog, stands next to the Japadog cart.   (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Abdullah Karali, left, and friend Omar Alhujaili enoy hot dogs from Japadog.   (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

From left, Yuko Nakagawa, marketing manager Hideki Aizawa, and owner Noriki Tamura prepare hot dogs for customers at Japadog in Koreatown on Thursday.  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Hideki Aizawa, left, marketing manager, and Noriki Tamura, owner of Japadog, display the different hot dogs they make.   (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

An Avocado dog (avocado, cream cheese and Japanese mayo) is prepared at Japadog.  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Yuko Nakagawa prepares a hot dog for a Japadog customer.   (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Yuko Nakagawa serves a hot dog to customer Christopher Lee.   (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Hideki Aizawa points out options on the menu at the Japadog cart.  (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Hot dogs sizzle on the grill at Japadog.   (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)

Hideki Aizawa, left, takes an order for a Japadog.   (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times)